Czech Railways promises changes after overcrowding hits Prague commuter trains

Czech Railways is introducing new measures to address a shortage of trains that has caused overcrowding and reduced capacity on key commuter routes in Prague and Central Bohemia.

The carrier said fewer trains should be out of service from today, following talks with representatives from Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. The changes come after some peak-hour services operated with a single three-car unit instead of the two units normally scheduled.

On Monday, 23 CityElefant trains were unavailable, contributing to packed services and delays for thousands of passengers traveling in and around the capital. 

Czech Railways is changing how it plans maintenance to prevent too many trains from being taken out of service at the same time.

The carrier has introduced a second check when scheduling trains for repairs and will also combine some maintenance work that was previously carried out separately, according to reporting by Czech transport site Zdopravy.cz.

In some cases, managers will also be able to postpone minor scheduled maintenance by a day, provided legal safety limits allow it, enabling a train to remain in operation during periods when capacity is particularly stretched.

Czech Railways says it has increased repair capacity at its depots by adding both workers and tracks where maintenance can take place. Two trains that have been out of service long-term are also expected to return by the end of the year.

The problem has particularly affected CityElefant trains used extensively on suburban routes around Prague. Czech Railways says it needs 57 CityElefant units for normal daily operations in the capital, but 23 were unavailable on Monday. Five RegioPanter trains were also missing from service.

The shortage follows similar problems in September and has been linked to a combination of technical faults, scheduled installation of the European Train Control System (ETCS), vandalism, collisions with wildlife and other incidents.

The changes should also make it easier for commuters to know in advance when their train will have reduced capacity.

Czech Railways will now check twice daily how many trains are available for the afternoon and following morning rush hours. If a morning service cannot operate at its planned length, information should be published after 6 p.m. the previous evening in the Můj vlak app and other Czech Railways information systems.

The information will also be passed to Prague’s PID Lítačka app.

When trains become overcrowded because of reduced capacity, staff can also allow second-class passengers to use first-class areas.

Central Bohemia has threatened the carrier with the maximum contractual penalties available over the disruption. The region said earlier this week that the reduced capacity was affecting thousands of passengers and called for the immediate stabilization of services.

Czech Railways paid CZK 46 million in penalties to Prague and Central Bohemia for failing to meet required standards last year. Another CZK 31 million in penalties was imposed during the first half of 2026. 

For commuters, the most immediate change should be improved information about reduced-capacity services. Passengers using suburban trains around Prague can check Můj vlak or PID Lítačka after 6 p.m. for information about changes affecting the following morning’s commute.